Dinner

I made dinner tonight for my brother and sister. Who remembers when that last happened?! For this exciting occasion I wanted to make something delicious, but also easy.



I made tuna burgers from Gwyneth Paltrow's new cookbook (topped with soy sesame mayo and arugula), salad with miso soy dressing and potatoes roasted with some of the duck fat in moms fridge (yum!). It was delicious - and I think Matt and Rosie enjoyed it. For dessert I made blondies (not even close to healthy, but very tasty).

It was a wonderful evening and now I am getting ready for bed so I can be well rested for Easter tomorrow!

Winston

I am home for the Easter holiday in chilly Minneapolis. In the past two days I have gotten in lots of quality time with my sisters dog, Winston.



He is a big sweetheart. After quite a bit of playtime he was too tired to get his toy again, but managed to crawl near it before taking a break.



Today before lunch, Papa and I took him to the park. I have never seen Winston so excited. He ran all over to inspect branches on the ground and various other objects (the day before he found a decaying animal and lovingly buried it at the foot of a tree).



He was reluctant to leave the park and lagged behind on he walk home.



Until he realized there was a treat in Papa's hand and then he ran fast up the hill.

Waffles!!!

After hearing all about the waffle carts from Caroline I asked John if we could visit one. He found a little pod where we went this morning for a late breakfast/early lunch. These food carts are so cute!



I got the big top: a whole wheat waffle with spinach, tomatoes and eggs. Yummy on a cold rainy morning.

Location:Portland, OR

Portland

Portland has been nice and relaxing. We have had some very erratic weather. Yesterday was sunny with blue skies! Such a relief after the all day rain on Monday.






On the walk to John's place yesterday evening I had to stop to take a picture of this beautiful tree. The blossoms are so beautiful.

SF

We had a lovely weekend in San Francisco. The weather was warm and sunny. Perfect. Our first night we went to Chez Panisse.



It was a very nice meal shared with my brother, cousins and new group member, Martha. The food was delicious and unpretentious. I only wish I hadn't had quite so much wine.

The next day we went to Tartine, my favorite place in SF. It was a mob scene so we took our delicious goodies to a nearby park and had a yummy picnic.



They have the best sandwiches. I was so sad to leave some of it behind, but it was too much food!



That night Matt, Elena and I went to Saison for a supremely beautiful meal. The service was friendly and easy and the food looked as beautiful as it tasted!






This guy isn't so pretty, but he tasted fresh and delicious!



We are in Portland for the week. I hope to get some nice photos of the beautiful cherry blossoms!

Last day

Tomorrow I head back to Brooklyn and chilly weather. I think I can handle it after these past few days in the hot sun.

We took a quick trip into town this morning to get Ellen and Josh Benadryl and I saw some crazy condoms in the store. This is a very bad picture, but these are called 'fiesta' condoms.



They also have 'Tropicat' condoms. People must have crazy sex here!!



A little family of chickens wandering through town.

And one last beautiful sunset.






St. Lucia has been lovely. With the exception of the bird sized moth flying around my bathroom earlier, I have enjoyed it all. (It was a really big moth. I skinned my knee a little bit when I dropped to the ground and curled into a ball to avoid it.)

Location:St. Lucia

Desi and Jonathon

We went out on the same boat today, but for the whole day. Desi is the name of our captain and he has a young helper, Jonathon. We went farther around the island and stopped in a few towns. Jonathon (a very small fourteen year old) was our guide off the boat. He joined us for lunch and told us all about school (children are taught English, French and Spanish in school and learn creole at home). He was very sweet and later we learned that he had been suspended from school and that is why he was on the boat in the middle of the week.



This rock formation (which looks kind of like a stegosaurus) has a little bridge in it. I was very nervous about going under it, but we made it!!












I surprised myself at how nervous the boat made me. I have no problem flying all over the world, but big waves freak me out!!! Thank goodness I was the only one with frayed nerves. The confidence of others does seem to help.






This is the cathedral of the immaculate conception in Castries (the 'big' city). It was interesting to see the influence of different generations and styles in one building. It was a nice escape from the crowds coming off the cruise ships (so glad they can't dock on our side of the island).



This is for Elena. Saw this sign and thought of you. We miss you and are so sad you couldn't join us.

Location:St Lucia

St Lucia

I am in St Lucia with Josh and Ellen and it is heavenly! They rented a beautiful house complete with a breathtaking view.



That is the Gros and Petit Piton.

We spent most of the day at the house since the roads are so bad that it is hard to go anywhere. This afternoon we went on a little boat ride and that is clearly the way to get around the island.



There was rain on and off, which resulted in a beautiful rainbow.






It was a perfect and complete arc.

Tomorrow we're getting on a boat for the day to snorkel and see more sights.

Miami!!!

Hello from sunny Miami!! It is hot and lovely here. I spent the afternoon reading in the blazing sun and am now covered in a light dusting of freckles. Feels so good after the long east coast winter.

I got bumped up to business at the very last minute and sat down next to a very interesting man. We barely exchanged a few words, but I couldn't help glancing at him from time to time. He had a shoulder length leonine mane of greying hair and wore a long blazer over spandex running tights and sneakers. His carry on luggage was the most beautifully patinated Louis Vuitton briefcase and bag. Inside his briefcase were fancy car magazines and a playboy. First time I have ever seen a man reading a 'girly mag' on a plane.

Location:Miami, FL

Cooking class, part two: cooking and eating

One we returned from the market we brought everything to the kitchen. Alejandro gave us all aprons and pencils and paper. He really did most of the cooking with a little help from us (I did not do anything. Just sipped on my Mezcalini and took notes). He is a very passionate and easygoing cook. No recipes - he did attempt to list everything for us so we can try and make things again at home.

Beautiful herbs



Chiles and vegetables (later used in the mole)



Simmering pots






The wonderful Alejandro Ruiz



He tried to show us how to filet a fish



I sat back with my delicious cucumber mint mezcalini and took notes (it's vacation!)



Once everything was about done, we all sat down at the table while Alejandro finished everything up.

Shrimp and lava bean soup with cactus leaves






Sea bass with tomato marmalade and capers (my favorite)



Yellow mole with filet



For dessert he whipped up a yogurt fruit puree with vanilla. It was light and refreshing.



It was a wonderful final day in Mexico!

Location:Oaxaca, Mexico

Cooking class, part one: shopping

We took a cooking class today with Alejandro Ruiz, who runs the restaurant here as well as the Casa Oaxaca restaurant nearby. I had high expectations since the food at both locations is so good, but I never expected it to be so fun!! We took the class with two other women - both from Minnesota!! - and they made it a lot of fun. One now lives in Mexico City but used to live a block away from me in Brooklyn and the other lives in Manhattan and used to waitress with my cousin's babysitter, Bev, in Mpls years ago! There was a lot of MN and NY talk.

The day started with a trip to the market to buy the ingredients. I just love visiting markets when i travel!! We bought fresh masa dough for the yellow mole.



Then we bought all the fruits and vegetables.






And chiles



The meat was already waiting in the kitchen, but it is always interesting to see all the American health codes thrown out the window (other cultures seem much more daring with their food)



Lots of grasshoppers for sale



We bought sun-dried shrimps for a soup



And then we bought fresh fish



Fresh zucchini blossoms for garnish



I kept bumping into piñatas as we walked around

Location:Oaxaca, Mexico